Boiler cleaner



NOV. 3, 1936. l F, W. LlNAKER A 2,059,592

BOILER CLEANER Filed May 28, 1936 s sheets-sheet 1 FIGB. C HGH. C

7 9 452 348 33 35 33@ w 'o [gf 7 7,3 60 f /3 l 4/ Y 39 )l 37 U I l r 'l @G40 74 'gl 7 27 8 Z4 q 04 l f f '124i I C I l 5 FIGA. fi'

Nov. 3, 1936.'

F. w. LINAKER BOILER CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1936 FICH.

I N VEA/TOR .FnsnEn/clf W. L/NAHER TTomvEY Nov. 3, v1936. F. w. I INAKER 2,059,592

BOILER CLEANER Filed May 28, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HG2@ Flgzl Flag?,

F|G27 Fleas fiif F'G'B J i A ma ,89%7889 3 89 61x85 3 89%89 @e a5 a' 33 63 85 I 86 a3 @a FIGB I. FIG32.

6/ 86 83 84 663/ @la 6687 $69 g3 6/ FIG 35 I/vvf/v TOR r msnm/cfr w. INA/1ER 'BY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES;I PATENT oFFicE 2,059,592 BolLER CLEANER Frederick W. Linaker, St. Louis, Mo.

Application May as, 1936, serial No. 82,181

6 Claims.

My invention has relation to improvements in boiler cleaners, and it consists in the novel feaf tures of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims. The invention is directed more particularly to the operating mechanism for the valve and the cleaner tube, and it has for its principal object the provision of two separate mechanisms, one for actuating the valve andthe other for actuating the blower tube. While the actuation of the valve and the actuation of the blower tube follow each other in definite sequence, they have, nevertheless, separate and distinct actions and are not associated in synchronism. For instance, after opening the valve the operator may maintain said valve in open position for any desired period before proceeding with the actuation of the blower tube; "and the extent of the arc of rotation of the blower tube in no wise imposes a variation in the degree to which the valve is opened. It is a. further object of the invention to provide mechanism that will compel a complete rotation throughout the blowing arc of the blower tube before the valve may be closed, and

'also insure a complete opening of the valve before the blower tube may be rotated. These objects are accomplished with a single prime actuating device.

My improved boiler cleaner comprises an operating head, blower tube, a valve casing, valve actuating mechanism and blower tube actuating mechanism. The operating' head is carried by the the boiler wall and is connected with thev outer end of the blower tube, while the valve casing' is primarily supported by the steam pipe or riser, and the actuating mechanism is carried by .the valve casing,

The mannerin which these boiler cleaner components are associated, as well as the details of construction thereof, will be better apparent from a description ofthe invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

` Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my .im-

proved boiler 'cleaner' with parts thereof shown ,i5 in section; Fig. 2 is a front elevational View with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts broken away; Fig, flis a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line t--li of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the linee-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a rear eleva- 'tional view of the hub portion of the operating sheave; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view through the operating sheave andnindicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the supporting bracket for the actuatingl adiagrammatic view of the stop bar andv actumechanism of both valve and blower tube; Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross sectional detail taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the valve actuating cam; Fig. 1l

`is a cross sectional detail taken on the line i',-

of the first phase of the operating cycle, at

which time the steam supply valve has not yet been opened; Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view o showing the relative positions of the blower tube, driving gear, stop bar, and valve mechanism driving pin at thesame time depicted in Figs. 15 to 17, inclusive.

Figs. 19 to .21, inclusive, are diagrammatic views corresponding with those shown in Figs. 15 to 1'7, inclusive, with the parts moved, however, to their respective positions at the end of the rst phase of the operating cycle, by which time thesteam supply valve has been opened; Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic View of the same parts shown in Fig. 18 with the valve cam driving pin moved to a position corresponding with its position in Figs. 20 and 21; Figs. 23 to 25, inclusive, are diagrammatic views corresponding with those shown in Figs. 19 to 21 with the parts shown intheir respective positions at the beginning of the second phase of the cycle of operations, which is the rotation of the blower tube, the valve remaining open; Fig.26 shows the position of the blower tube driving gear. stop bar and valve cam actuating pin in their respective positions at the same time that the parts shown in Figs. 23 to 25 occupy the positions `shown therein; Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing` the position of the stop bar-.actuating cam at the same instant that the parts shown in Figs. 23 to 25 are in the'positions shown therein; Fig. 28.is

ating cam therefor in their respective positions shortly after the second phase of the cycle of operations has gone into effect; Fig. 29 shows the same parts shown in Fig. 26, said parts'heing in their respective positions, however, at the end of the second phase of the cycle of operations; Fig. 30 shows the stop bar and actuating cam therefor also `at the end 'n of the second phase of the cycle; Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view of the blower tube driving gear, stop bar andvalve has.

cam driving pin just before the end of the third phase of the cycle;

Fig. 32 shows the stop bar and valve cam driving pin with relation to the supporting bracket at the same instant depicted in Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is a diagrannnatic view-showing the relative positions of the valvecam, driving pin and hub of the actuating sheave at the end of the third f phase; Fig. 34 is a diagrammatic view of the same parts shown in Fig. 21 showing the positions of the stop bar and valve driving pin relativevto the supporting bracket at the -end of the third phase; Figs. 35 and 36 are diagrammatic views corresponding to Figs. 31 and 32 showing the respective parts, however, at the end of the third phase of the cycle.

Referring to the drawings, I represents the outer end of a blower tube of yany construction known in the art which is passed through the customary wall sleeve 2 fixed in a boiler wall 3..

A suitable bracket 3 is bolted to the flange 2" of the wall sleeve 2, and has a vertically disposed stud a which carries a loose ring bearing 3".l

The operating head comprises a pair of spaced disc members 4, 5.connected by a flanged rib 5, and a disc member 1, which is bolted to the disc member 5. The outer extremity I of the blower A tube I is screw-threaded into a central boss I formed on thedisc member 1, -and a tube 8 Ais disposed in the head having support in ,the disc 4 and in the disc 5. The end of the tube 8 within the disc 5 has a conical flange .8 between which and a central opening I8 in disc 5 is a bearing element The bearing element is tightly held in place by the disc 1; thus, the bearing element is frictionally held between the disc 5 and the disc 1 so that it will rotate with these elements while the tube 8 will remain stationary.

tionary parts steam-tight, suitable packing material I2 is packed in the space behind the bearing element I I and held inplace by means of 'a' gland I3, xed by means of suitable bolts be. tween the discv 4 and the disc 5. The construction of the head is substantially the same' as the construction of the corresponding head shown in my pending application, Serial No. r155,135, filed November 28, 1934, and need not be described in greater detail as no claims are made for the head per se in this application. f

A valve casing I4 is arranged in close proximity to the disc 4, said casing comprising ailanged component I5 (to which is bolted a steam supply pipe or riser I8) and an `upwardly extending component I1, between which components is formed a steam chamber I8. A tapped opening |8"extends through the Wall lof the component |1 and has the outer threaded extremity 8' of the tube -8 screw-threaded into 4it so as to communi cate with the steam chamber I8. Within the component I5 of valve casing I4 there is a suitable valve seat 28 disposed below the steam chamber I8, and a cylindrical chamber 2| disposed above the steam chamberV |8. YThe valve comv'a valve stem 25 extending upwardly through the valve casing I4. A stuillng box 25 is` fixed in the casing to prevent leakage of steam past the valve stem.. A pilot valve 21 is formed on the-inner .'In order t0- make the joint vbetween these movable and stasupporting both the valve actuating mechanism andthe blower tube actuating mechanism.

Actuating mechanism An actuating shaft 33 is mounted for rotation in `the bearings 34, 35 formed at the upper ends of the arms 3|', 32, said shaft having a clutch member 36 keyed to it near its outer end, beyond which extends a. reduced threaded extremity 31. A chain sheave wheel 38 is loosely mounted on of the opening which passes through the web 38 of the sheave 38.

A spring actuated bolt 43 is disposed in theI opening 4|, the flattened nos/e 44 of the bolt bearing against the flattened shoulder 42 of the opening. The bolt is formed with an open socket 45 in which is seated a coiled spring 45; the outer end of said spring bearing against a perforated cover plate 41 held against the housing 38 by nuts 48, 48. The nose 44 of the bolt 43 normally projects a short distance beyond the inner surface of the sheave web 38'; and a driving lug 58 is formed on the outer surface of said web 3'5' on substantially the same arc as the bolt 43, but spaced radially a short distance therefrom. A valve actuating cam 5| is loosely mounted on -shaft`33 between bearing 34 and the sheave wheel 38,.said cam having an arcuate flange52 pro jecting outwardly from one side of its hub 53, and a socket member 54 extending diametrically opposite from the flange 52. A cam surface' 55 is formed on the hub 53 and socket member 54 and merges intothe outer surface 58 of a cam n'ose 51 projecting outwardly from the socket member 54. A longitudinally disposed cylindrical socket58 is formed in the socket member 54, communicating with which and formed in the end wall 58 of socket member 54 is a square vopening 88. yA pin 8|, hereinafter referred to as` the valve cam driving pin, is disposed in the socket 58, said pin having a square extremity 52 traversing opening 88 in member54 and a-shouly der 83 near its opposite end, vbetween which andthe bottom of socket 58 is a coiled spring 8,4 oper- .ating to urge the pin 6| inwardly soas to. retracty the shaft 33 just inside the clutch member 35,

its square extremity 52 and extend its opposite.

end 85 beyond the socket 58. Thus, either one end or the other lof the pin 8| always projects from the socket 58,

lIf'he bracket arm 3| has an arcuate portion 85 projecting beyond the bearing 34 through an tially onvthe vertical center line of bracket arm 3|, and adjacent to the inner end of arcuate portion 66, is a rectangular opening 68 immediately adjacent to which is a recess 69, the purpose of which will be apparent in connection with the description of the operation of the invention. A

perforated arm 18 extends laterally from thev bracket arm 3| and a lug 1I, having an opening 12, also extends outwardly from the lug 1I, but

in a plain at right angles to that at which the arm 10 is disposed. The bracket arm 32 is also provided with a rectangular opening 13 somewhat larger than the opening 68 but substantially on the valve stem 25 `between the stuffing box 26 of operations to be shortly described. Considerand a nut 1,8 passed over the threads 19 formed on the upper end of valve stem 25. Obviously the action of the cam 5I on the lever 14 is, communicated to the valve stem 25 whereby the valve is either opened or closed, although this is no new expedient, having been heretofore employed by me in boiler cleaner construction. However, the specific form of cam and the association of other parts therewith is new, as will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out.

On the inner end of the actuating shaft 33 is flxeda driving pinion 88, which meshes with' a driving gear 8|, fixed in any desirable manner on to the disc 4v so that with a rotation of lthe gear 8| the discs 4, 5together with their connecting rib 6, comprising the blower head, will be rotated. In order that the driving gear' 8| may have limits imposed on the extent of its rotatiorif, there is a stop lug 82 formed on said gear 8|, said lug projecting toward the bracket arm 32 and having a beveled face 82' (Fig. 3) adapted spectively, and has a notch 85 formed in itsl inner end to receive the inner end 65 of valve cam actuating pin at a certain point in the cycle ing the surface `in which the notch 85 is formed as the side of the stop bar 83, there is a recess 86 formed in the top surface thereof, said recess having its inner surface 81 inclined so that it will cooperate with a cam member 88 having oppositely disposed surfaces 88, 88, either of which is adapted to enter the recess 86 and engage the inclined surface 81 to slide the stop bar 83 toward the driving gear 8|.

Having now described all of the parts which make up the actuating mechanism of my improved bciler cleaner, I will proceed with the description of the operation thereof.

Operation of invention In the diagrammatic views I5 to I8, inclusive, the valve and the blower actuating parts are shown in their idle positions and the blower tube is at rest at the beginning of its arc of rotation. In order to actuate the blower, the operator takes hold of the chain C and pulls on the same so as to rotate the sheave 38 in a counter clockwise direction. As the sheave 38 rotates the lug 58, adjacent to the sheave hub, impinges on the pin 6I, the end 62 of which projects in the path of said lug because the inner end 65 is bearing against the arcuate portion 66 of bracket arm 3|. Thus, the rotation ofthe sheave 38 carries the pin 6| around with it and of course oscillates the cam member 5| .which carries the pin 6|. As the cam member rotates, its cam surface 55 forces the lever 14 downwardly and depresses the valve stem 25 so as to open first the pilot valve 21 and then the main valve 22, thereby admitting the steam from the riser I6 into the chamber I8 and, of course, to the blower tube I. Throughout the oscillation of the cam member, the stop bar 83 occupies a position such that its outer end is clear of the pin 6I, permitting said pin to travel over the end of the stop bar until it reaches the recess 68 in bracket arm 3|, into which said pin drops and locks the cam member 5I against further movement. At this time the nose' 51 of the cam member is bearing against the lever 14 to hold the valve stem 25 in its depressed position to maintain the valve 22 open. T hevalveactuating parts are now in the positions shown in the Figs. 19 to 22, inclusive.

The action just describedv may be termed the I first phase of the operating cycle, during which only the valve has been actuated to open position, the blower tube remaining stationary. The second phase of the operating cycle, namely, the rotation of the blower tube throughout its blowing arc in one direction is accomplished by rotating the driving sheave 38 in a clockwise direction. Obviously the rstpart of the rotation vof the sheave takes up the idle play between clutch members 36 and 48, after which the clutch member 40 in the sheave engages with the clutch member r36, carrying said clutch member around with it to rotate the actuating shaft 33 also in a clockwise direction (looking at the mechanism from the front).' As the shaft 33 is rotated, the

driving pinion 80 will also be rotated to actuate the driving gear 8 I, together with the blower tube with which it is connectedin a counter clockwis'e direction. Asv the driving gear '8| rotates, the beveled stop lug 82 thereon moves away from the stop bar 83 without affecting the position thereof (Fig. 26). As the operator continues to rotate the sheave 38 by a clockwise direction, the

pinion 88 rotates the gear 8| a complete revolution, during the beginning of which rotation one of the cams .89 on the cam member 88 has engaged with the inclined surface 81 of the stop member 83 to move said stop bar inwardly toward the gear 8|. As the stop bar is moved inwardly by cam 88, its outer end releases the valve cam pin 6I, permitting the force of main valve spring 11 to raise lever 14 slightly to oscillate the cam nose 51 and rock cam 5I until Apin 6I comes overl stop bar 83 (Fig. 29).

The movement of stop bar 83 inwardly puts the member in the path of the lug 82 so that at the end of'one revolution of the gear 8|, said lug4 82 will come into abutting relation with the end of the stop member 83 as shown in Fig. 29. Figs. 27 and. 28 show the action of' the cam 88 on the stop bar 83. Obviously when the lug `82 engages with the stop bar 83, no further rotation ofthe gear 8| is possible and we have now come to the end of the second phase of the cycle of operations.

In order to complete the blowing operation of the boiler cleaner, the operator must now reverse the direction of rotation of the sheave 38.

'He thereupon again rotates said sheave in a counter clockwise direction, during the first part of which rotation, while the play between the clutch members 36 and 40 is being taken up, nothing happens to the valve mechanism. Continuation of the rotation of the sheave 38 in a counter clockwise direction now rotates the pinion in a counter clockwise direction and the gear 8| in a clockwise direction until the outer beveled face 82v of lug 82 impinges on the outer end 84 of the stop bar 83 to stop further movement. The engagement of face 82' with the beveled end 84 of stop bar 83 forces the bar outwardly carrying the cam actuating pin 6I clear of the recess 69 and level with the arcuate surface 66. At this time the outer end of pin 8l is in the path of bolt 43, but saidbolt will snap past the pin 6I (its spring yielding for this purpose) immediately before reaching the end of this phase of the cycle. At this time we have come to the end of the third phase of the operating cycle and the blower tube has been restored to its initial position but the valve is still open (Figs. 33 to 36, inclusive).

We now come to the final phase of the cycle which is the closing of the main steam valve. Before commencing this final phase, the valve actuating parts are in their relative -positions shown in Figs. 33, 34, and 36. The operator now rotates the sheave 38 in a clockwise direction whereupon the bolt 43 (while the idle movement in the clutch is being taken up) carries with it in its rotation the cam pin 6| which is now held outwardly against the pressure of its spring 64 by the stop bar 83. The cam pin 6I thus travels over the arcuate surface 66 carrying with it the cam 5l and permitting the main valve to seat under the pressure of its spring 1l. By the time arcuate lug 52 impinges against -the bracket 3|, the valve is fully lclosed and the valve actuating parts are again in the position ready for beginning the rst phase as shown in diagrammatic views 15 to 17, inclusive. Y

A complete cycle of operation has now been traversed and the parts have been restored to their positions of rest with the blower idle.

Having described my invention, I claim: Y 1. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotatable blower tube, an operating head including a yrevolvable support connected to the blower tube and a fixed support therefor, a valve casing in communication with the blower tube, a valve in said casing, actuating mechanism carried by the valve casing, said mechanism comprising valveoperating means and blower tube rotating means associated therewith and including a prime actuator sequentially effective on the blower tube throughout a predetermined arc forward and backward, means eiective on the valve actuating means to hold the valve open while ythe blower tube is rotating through its arc in both directions, and means associated with the blower tube actuating means to release said holding means during the rotation of the blower tube to provide for closing the valve by the prime actuator after the end of the backward rotation of the blower tube. i f

2. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotatable blower tube, an operating head including a revolable support connected to the blower tube and a fixed support therefor, a valve casing in communication with the blower tube, a valve in said casing, actuating mechanism carried by the valve casing, said actuating mechanism comprising valve operating means, blower tube rotating means, and a primev actuator effective on both said means; the blower tube rotating means including driving elements connected between the blower tube and prime actuator by a clutch having av certain amount of free play, the valve operating means including a cam/member, a retractile pin mounted therein, a driving lug on the prime actuator for engagement with said lug, a member for controlling the position of Said pin whereby it may be held in and out of the path of the driving lug, a stop bar for limiting the amount of rotation of the blower tube, means associated with the blower tube for actuating the stop bar to move the retractile pin into the path of the driving lug, and separate means associated with the blower tube for actuating the stop bar to arrest rotation of the blower tube.

3. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotatable blower tube, an operating head including a revolvable support connected to the blower tube and a fixed support therefor, a valve casing in communication with the blower tube, a valve in said casing, actuating mechanism carried by the valve casing, said mechanism comprising valve-operating means and blower tube rotating means associated therewith and including a prime vactuator sequentially effective on vthe valve and blower tube, means for locking the valve-operating means when the valve is open, a sliding bar operatively associated with the locking means, and a cam so associated with the blower tube and with the sliding bar as to move the sliding bar into position to release said locking means.

4. A boiler cleaner comprising a rotatable blower tube, an operating -head including a revolvable support connected to the blower tube and a xed support therefor, a valve casing in communication with the blower tube,v a valve in said casing, actuating mechanism carried by the valve casing, said actuating mechanism comprising valve operating means and blower rotating means associated therewith and including a prime actuator sequentially effective on the valve and on the blower tube, means for locking the valve operating means when the valve is open, a reciprocating member for unlocking said means, and means associated with the blower tube for actuating said reciprocatingv member.

' 5. A boiler cleaner having a rotatable blower tube, and a valve for admitting steam thereto, means for opening said valve, means for locking the valve in open position, means for rotating the blower tube effective thereon only after having locked the valve in open position, means for unlocking said valve eiective after said rotation of the blower tube, and means for closing said valve. 6. In a boiler cleaner, a rotary cleaner tube, a valve for the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, a rotary operating head for said tube, means independent of said rotary head for opening and closing the valve, a common actuating means for operating said operating head and valve operating means in non-synchronized relation, the parts being constructed and arranged so that said valve operating means will operate to open the valve only prior to the rotation of the operating head and to close the valve only after the rotation of said operating head..

FREDERICK W. LINAKER. 

